| Neanderthal | prop. n. 1. (Anthropol.) A neanderthal human being; a member of the race Homo sapiens neanderthalensis; as, neanderthals were shorter than modern humans. [ PJC ] 2. One resembling a neanderthal human; a troglodyte; a cave man. [ PJC ] 3. Hence: (Fig.) A person of primitive, unenlightened or uneducated opinions or attitudes; one with a regressive social or political outlook; -- used disparagingly. [ PJC ] |
| Neanderthal man | prop. a. 1. (Anthropol.) Of, pertaining to, or named from, the Neanderthal, a valley in the Rhine Province, in which were found parts of a skeleton of an early type of man. The skull is characterized by extreme dolichocephaly, flat, retreating forehead, with closed frontal sutures, and enormous superciliary ridges. The cranial capacity is estimated at about 1, 220 cubic centimeters, being about midway between that of the Pithecanthropus and modern man. Hence, pertaining to or designating the or a species of extinct robust humans, believed to have been widespread in the Middle Paleolithic in Europe and western Asia; as, a Neanderthal skull.
Syn. -- Neanderthalian. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. + WordNet 1.5 ] 2. Similar to or reminiscent of a neanderthal human; troglodytic; primitive and uncultured. [ PJC ] Variants: Neanderthal race, Neanderthal |
